List of Japan Video topics Episode (2008-2010) Title 2010 ... · Inden is a world-renowned type of...

List of Japan Video topics Episode (2008-2010) Title 2010-2011 2011/04/14

Issue Date Title Length Category Detail Web Place Region

2010/2011 No.1 April '10Kakunodate – Sakura and

Samurai3’ 40” Nature/Tourism

Kakunodate is a small town in the northwest of Japan, famous for its magnificent cherry trees

and samurai era architecture. After Kakunodate castle was built in 1620, a whole district grew

around it containing the fine mansions of the samurai who served its lord. The wife of an early

lord brought cherry seeds from Kyoto to plant, and 400 ancient weeping cherry trees still

ornament the samurai residential district. These, and the 2-kilometers of somei yoshino

cherries lining the riverbank, now attract over a million visitors each spring.

2011/04/05 Kakunodate/Aomori Tohoku

Designed for Universal Use 3’ 57” Life/Design/Techonology

Universal Design is a design philosophy that aims to create products and environments that are

easy and safe to use by everyone, especially the young, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Japanese designers, who must cope with the world's most rapidly aging population, bring a

special perspective and experience to this worldwide movement. Throughout Japan, household

items, interiors, public facilities and even entire towns are now being redesigned to make them

safe and easier to use by the entire population.

2011/04/05

A Tradition of Fine Blades 3’ 54” Craft/Tradition/Design

Japanese cuisine is famous for subtle tastes and visual appeal, and these depend greatly on the

hocho - the Japanese kitchen knife. Samurai swords are world-renowned, and many

hocho are forged using the same traditional materials and methods. They are solid,

with a superb cutting edge - qualities essential for preparing sushi or sashimi to retain

the natural flavor and texture, and to cut delicate food into precise shapes. Hocho come

in a vast number of different types and sizes, each designed for a different function and

food type.

2011/04/05

Edo Period Puppet Theatre 4’ 06” Theatre/Culture/Tradition

In 1635, the shogunate government licensed just five theaters to operate in Edo, the capital

city. Some, like the Kabuki, remain famous to this day. Also surviving, but far less well known, is

the puppet theater called Edo Ito Ayatsuri Ningyo. These marionettes are constructed and

operated in a unique way that allows them to express human emotions far more realistically

than any other puppets. Modern and even foreign plays have been added to the classical

repertoire, but the traditional techniques are still carefully preserved.

2011/04/05

2010/2011 No.2 May '10 Wasabi 3’ 53” Food/Culture/Tradition

As indicated by its scientific name - Wasabia japonica - wasabi originates in Japan. Not

just anywhere in Japan - this sensitive plant requires constant pure water in

mountainous environments that stay cool and mild all year round. This hot spicy root

first became popular in Japanese cuisine 200 years ago, along with the habit of eating

raw fish as sushi. As well as adding a pungent, spicy taste, wasabi is an anti-bacterial

that protects against food poisoning. The world knows grated wasabi root from sushi,

but the stems and leaves are also used in many Japanese dishes to add a uniquely hot

and aromatic flavor.

2011/04/05

Rebun – Island of Flowers 4’ 23” Nature/Tourism

The small island of Rebun split off from the mainland of Hokkaido after the last ice age.

Isolation protected its unique environment and allowed the local plants to flourish undisturbed

by invasive species. A northerly location and frequent sea mists keep temperatures low even in

midsummer, and as a result, this low-lying island is home to many alpine flowers normally only

found above 2000m. Take the hiking trail in summer from Cape Sukoton in the north to

Momoiwa in the south, and you can enjoy up to 300 species of alpine plants, many of them

found nowhere else in the world.

2011/04/05 Rebun Island Hokkaido

Japan’s Advanced Vending

Machines3’ 46” Liffe/Science/Techonology

There are probably more vending machines on the streets of Japan than anywhere else, selling

an ever wider range of items. New technology keeps adding more convenience, such as

machines serving both hot and cold drinks, varied to match seasonal needs. Choose your type

of coffee, cup size, cream and sugar amounts - and watch your cup being brewed on an eye-

level monitor. Internal elevators improve accessibility by delivering purchases at a convenient

height. And because these machines are everywhere, they make a useful place to provide

emergency medical or survival equipment.

2011/04/05

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Tenugui – The Handy Cloth 3’ 25” Craft/Tradition/Design

Used for centuries as an all-purpose hand cloth, the tenugui is a 90 by 35cm strip of

unhemmed cotton, usually printed in a colorful pattern. In the 17th century, in a fashion

started by kabuki actors, people began also wearing tenugui as a stylish head covering,

inspiring the vast range of patterns and motifs we can buy today. At any shrine festival

or traditional event, you can see people wearing these head cloths just the way they did

in the 17th century. The versatile tenugui is still in common use in roles as varied as

dishcloths, dust covers,wall hangings, tablecloths and tourist souvenirs.

2011/04/05

2010/2011 No.3 June '10 Cyber Power Suits 4’ 30” Liffe/Science/Techonology

Japanese anime and manga often show robot heroes helping and rescuing humans. Advances

in technology are making this dream a reality, with robot nursing assistants able to lift the

heaviest bedridden person and cuddly robot animals that provide interactive therapy. Most

impressive of all is the robot suit HAL. When sensors on the wearer's skin pick up nerve signals

to muscles, HAL's motors provide the power to move or assist the intended limb. A full HAL suit

provides extra lifting power for care givers, while partial suits can make effective training aids

to help recover function in specific limbs.

2011/04/05

Kumiko Latticework 3’ 44” Craft/Tradition/Design

Kumiko latticework is a craft tradition that became established in the 17th century, when

craftsmen were brought together from all over Japan to decorate the shogun's great

mausoleum at the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. Ideas and techniques shared during this project

formed the basis for the distinctive look that the craft would develop in later centuries -

complex geometric patterns, often imitating nature, created from lattices of thin wooden

sections. These are sawn or planed to an incredible precision of 1/100mm, so that they will fit

firmly together without any nails or adhesive.

2011/04/05

The Essential Bean 4’ 26” Food/Culture/Tradition

Rich in protein, soybeans have been an important source of nutrition for the Japanese since

ancient times. Grown in many colors, shapes and sizes, these beans are used in an wide variety

of products, the most famous being tofu, a highly nutritious food introduced to Japan from

China at the start of the 8th century. The Japanese went on to develop their own distinctive

styles of tofu, and now use it as the base for many dishes. Soybeans can be eaten fresh or

cooked, processed into soy sauce, flour or miso, or even fermented in straw to produce sticky,

flavorful natto, prized for its many health benefits.

2011/04/05

Pillars of Flame 3’ 43” Festival/Culture/Tradition

Toyohashi City in Aichi holds a unique festival each July. The 400-year old Gion Festival centers

around a firework display, but instead of the usual rockets these are long sections of specially

cut bamboo trunk, wound with straw rope for extra strength, and packed with gunpowder

material. The young men of the city hold these bamboo cylinders barehanded as they shoot

pillars of fire into the sky. Flames can be 10m high, raining fiery sparks on the holders, and

hundreds of fireworks are set off during the three hour festival. Traditionally a rite of passage

from young adults, it's still a stirring test of courage.

2011/04/05 Toyohashi/Aichi Chubu

2010/2011 No.4 July'10 The Dinosaurs of Katsuyama 3’ 42” Nature/Science/Techonology

Almost 80 percent of all dinosaur fossils discovered in Japan have been found in the area

around Katsuyama City, in Fukui Prefecture, a highly scenic area that shows the remains of

volcanic activity and ancient geological upheavals. Dinosaur fossils unique to Fukui are

displayed in the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum along with many other exhibits, ranging

from over 40 impressive reconstructed dinosaur skeletons to the exactly preserved remains of

a Camarasaurus - a specimen of world-class importance. The museum also has a huge

animated robot Tyrannosaurus Rex. Another local attraction is the nearby park, where visitors

can search for fossils in the rocks.

2011/04/05 Katsuyama/Takamatsu Shikoku

Tokyo’s New Green Heart 5’ 00” Liffe/Science/Techonology

At the center of Tokyo, the three adjoining districts of Otemachi, Marunouchi and Yurakucho

form the cultural and economic heart of Japan and are now the site of a major initiative in

sustainable urban redevelopment. The redevelopment project has included measures such as

centralized area heating and cooling systems to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide

emissions, routes designed to control air temperatures by guiding cooling winds through the

area, and street surfaces that retain water. This ongoing experiment is creating a green city

where economic activity can thrive in harmony with a healthy environment.

2011/04/05 Tokyo Kanto

2/17



Ishiakari Stone Lanterns 4’ 06” Craft/Tradition/Design

The fine quality granite known as Aji-ishi has been mined in the area around Takamatsu

City in Kagawa prefecture for about 1,000 years. When Aji-ishi is polished it takes on a

beautiful glaze, revealing a surface covered with a unique pattern of dark and light

spots. As hard as quartz and difficult to work, it can however be carved with fine details

without fear of chipping or breaking. The many properties of Aji-ishi have made it

popular with modern interior designers. Each summer, Takamatsu's traditional

stonemasons compete to create the best design of stone lantern, crafted from Aji-ishi .

Known as Ishiakari , about 200 of these lanterns light up the night along a 1-km stretch

of city street.

2011/04/05 Takamatsu/Kagawa Kanto

2010/2011 No.5 Onigiri – rice to go 3’ 23” Food/Culture/Tradition

Rice is the staple food of the Japanese, and it's prepared in many ways, including the easily

portable style known as onigiri . The Japonica variety of rice grown in Japan becomes

sticky and soft when cooked, making it ideal for shaping by hand into onigiri . Long-

lasting and delicious, onigiri comes in many flavors and is very popular for eating at

lunch or carrying on picnics.

2011/04/05

When lacquer meets

deerskins3’55” Craft/Tradition/Design

Inden is a world-renowned type of luxury leather ware developed in Yamanashi

Prefecture in the 17th century. It is mostly used to make items like bags and wallets.

There are three Inden techniques: Urushi-tsuke, Sarasa and Fusube. In the Urushi-

tsuke technique, lacquered designs are applied to dyed deerskin. Its special feature is

the way the lacquer pattern stands out in relief. Sarasa is a technique for applying

multiple colors and complex patterns. The Fusube technique creates patterns by

smoking. The deerskin is stretched over a special rotating drum, and the designs are

created by winding string around it. Recently, beautiful new designs are being created

by combining these techniques and other methods.

2011/04/05

Electric vehicles hit the

street3’ 40” Life/Techonology/Science

Initiatives aimed at environmental issues are progressing in many countries, and among these,

several kinds of eco-car have been developed. Now, Japan's major automakers are launching a

constant stream of electric-powered vehicles. Technology developed by Japanese enterprises

such as better batteries is making a major contribution. This video introduces the electric cars

and scooters now being widely adopted in Japan, and which are seen as the next generation of

transportation.

2011/04/05

Owara Kaza no Bon Festival 4’ 05” Festival/Culture/Tradition

The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival is a folk music and dance event that takes place every year

from September 1st to 3rd in Yatsuo-machi, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. It is said to have

begun 300 years ago. The male dancers wear happi coats, while the females wear yukata

with black sashes and braided straw hats. Since this is a festival to pray for good

harvests, the dances represent farming activities. The attraction of this festival is the

sight of the slow, elegant dance as it passes through the streets of this old town,

accompanied by the Owara Bushi folk music which is characterized by the distinctive

tones of the kokyu , a traditional bowed instrument.

2011/04/05 Yatsuo/Toyama Chubu

2010/2011 No.6 Lakes of Many Colours 3' 44" Nature/Tourism

The area of Urabandai, on the northern side of Mt. Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture, has over

300 lakes and ponds. By late October, the forests covering the lakesides and mountain slopes

begin to change color in a beautiful, many-hued spectacle. The most unique sight is the group

of lakes called Goshiki-numa, each lake having its own distinctive color. These mysterious lakes

are even more magnificent in autumn, when they reflect the red and gold leaves.

2011/04/05Goshikinuma/Fukushim

aTohoku

Safe Water from Every Tap 3' 47" Liffe/Science/Techonology

In virtually every home throughout Japan, you can safely drink the water straight from the tap.

The water supply technology that ensures this is globally among the best, and the Tokyo water

system is renowned for having by far the world's lowest rate of leakage from its pipes. Japan's

water supply is made so efficient by a combination of highly advanced water treatment,

superior leakage detection techniques and a highly effective management system.

2011/04/05

3/17



Tsumami Kanzashi Hair

Ornaments3’07” Culture/Craft/Design

Kanzashi are ornaments used by Japanese women to fasten their hair when wearing

kimono. First becoming widely popular in the late 17th century, the designs and

techniques for making them have since undergone centuries of refinement. The most

complex and colorful type, known as tsumami kanzashi , uses tiny folded squares of

very thin silk to create flowers and other natural designs portraying Japanese seasonal

themes. This beautiful and highly developed craft continues to flourish today.

2011/04/05

Karatsu Kunchi Festival 3’57” Festival/Culture/Tradition

Karatsu Kunchi is the autumn festival of Karatsu Shrine, held annually from November 2nd to

4th in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. At the center of the festival are 14 large gorgeously

lacquered and decorated floats. Works of great artistic value, these floats were all hand-crafted

between 1819 and 1876. The festival, a thanksgiving for both harvests and business success,

features processions snaking through the streets with teams of townspeople heroically hauling

their 2-ton floats, sometimes at considerable speed.

2011/04/05 Karatsu/Saga Kyushu

2010/2011 No.7 Wajima-nuri lacquerware 4' 22" Craft/Tradition/Design

Of all traditional Japanese lacquerware, that made in Wajima City, Ishikawa, is famous for its

special combination of fine decoration with the strength to endure many years of use. Over 20

different processes go into the making of a single piece, each handled by its own specialist

artisan. Unique techniques for reinforcement and for delicate golf leaf and powder

ornamentation are the hallmarks of a lacquer tradition much loved both for its beauty and its

practicality.

2011/04/05 Wajima/Ishikawa Chubu

Lighting up the night in

Arashiyama3' 26" Nature/Tourism

One of Kyoto's best-known tourist spots, this area of picturesque scenery, ancient shrines and

temples is transformed each December by nighttime illuminations. The beauty of Togetsukyo

Bridge and the bamboo forest walk become even more magical, lit by electricity generated

hydraulically from the river and from solar panels. Streets lined with andon lanterns also

feature ikebana flower displays, while illuminated temple buildings and gardens shine

magnificently among the surrounding darkness. It's a time of year when the nights of

this scenic area are just as entrancing as the days.

2011/04/05 Kyoto Kinki

Fine marquetry from

Hakone3’52” Craft/Tradition/Design

The Hakone Yosegi-zaiku marquetry craft tradition, featuring complex geometrical patterns

formed using the natural colors of different types of wood, began about 200 years ago in

Hakone, a forested area containing many tree species. Several types of wood are cut and glued

into a solid block so that a pattern runs all the way through it. Thin veneers shaved off this

block are used to decorate products ranging from jewelry cases to chests and trays. Hakone

Yosegi-zaiku ware is also famous for intricate secret puzzle boxes.

2011/04/05 Hakone/Kanagawa Kanto

A cascade of

chrysanthemums3’23” Craft/Tradition/Design

Autumn is chrysanthemum season in Japan, and flower shows are held all over the country,

where you can see an enormous variety of displays, from plants with giant blossoms over 20

cm across to huge cascades with up to 2,000 blossoms all growing on the same stem. The

Japanese have been refining their chrysanthemum growing skills for almost 200 years, and

today techniques like night time greenhouse lighting can control flower growth so that

hundreds or even thousands of flowers will bloom at exactly the same time.

2011/04/05

2010/2011 No.8Japan's high-speed rail

system5'22" Liffe/Science/Techonology

Japan's high-speed rail network began in 1964 with the launch of the Shinkansen Bullet Train,

at the time the world's fastest. The network now has over 2,000 km of track and links all the

nation's regions. The trains too have continued to evolve, becoming faster, more comfortable

and quieter. The latest in this evolution is the Hayabusa, a new design that debuted on the

Tohoku Shinkansen route in March, 2011, with a maximum operating speed of 320 km/h.

2011/04/05

4/17



Matsue - the water city 4'09" Nature/Tourism

Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture grew up around the castle built in 1611, and it still retains

much of the look of that old period. Rivers and waterways crisscross the city, giving it much of

its beauty, and a riverboat tour is by far the best way to enjoy the sights of old Matsue. Boats

operate all year round, with old-style charcoal heaters to ward off the winter chill. Another

popular boat tour is on Lake Shinji, to the west of the city, to watch the spectacular sunsets.

2011/04/05 Matsue/Shimane Chugoku

Sppedy and safe - Japan's

egg technology3'04" Food/Culture/Tradition

In Japan, highly advanced, computerized technology carries eggs from hen to shop. At the

processing plant, eggs are first cleaned and externally sterilized with boiling ozonated water.

Then come a series of computer controlled inspections for surface dirt, shell cracks and

internal defects. Computerized conveyor belt systems clean, check and package about 120,000

eggs per hour with such high levels of hygiene that it's always safe to eat Japanese eggs

uncooked.

2011/04/05

Artful gift wrapping 3'32" Craft/Tradition/Design

Origata is a traditional art of folding Japanese washi paper to wrap gifts and make decorations

for ceremonial events. The essence of this art is to show respect and consideration for the

recipient of the gift, so the paper is always folded for easy opening and arranged to indicate

what its contents are. Many levels of meaning can be expressed through this artistic folding of

white sheets of paper, and origata is a tradition that's alive and well in Japan today.

2011/04/05

Azuki- the versatile little red

bean3'32" Food/Culture/Tradition

Small red azuki beans are often eaten in Japan on auspicious occasions. They are

mixed with sticky rice to form sekihan , eaten in miso soup, and boiled with sugar to

make anko bean paste. As the base material of wagashi Japanese confectionery,

anko adds protein and fiber to an enormous range of beautiful looking, healthy sweets.

This little red bean is found at the heart of many uniquely Japanese dishes and

confectioneries.

2011/04/05

2010/2011 No.9 March '11 Izu – Paradise of Flowers 4’02” Nature/Tourism

The entrance to the Izu Peninsula is an easy one hour train ride from Tokyo. Tourists flock here

for Izu's year-round mild climate, magnificent coastline and famous hot springs. The most

popular destinations are the spots where many flowers bloom simultaneously in February –

you can see plum, camellia, cherry, daffodil and rape blossoms. Plum and cherry blossoms

flower earlier here than anywhere else in Japan, and early spring on the Izu coast is a

picturesque sight.

2011/04/05 Izu/Shizuoka Chubu

Snow and Hemp in Ojiya 3’49” Craft/Tradition/Design

Ojiya chijimi is a woven fabric that has been produced in Ojima, in Niigata Prefecture, for

about 350 years. In this snowy area, weavers discovered that they could bleach their

fabric to a distinctive hue by laying it out on the winter snow. They use a local variety of

hemp called choma which is very absorbent and dries quickly. In combination with a

special crimping technique to produce linen crepe, this makes a comfortable fabric

that's ideal for summer kimonos. Hand woven on unique looms, these fabrics also

feature very beautiful patterns.

2011/04/05 Ojima/Niigata Tohoku

Leave it All to the Movers 3’58” Liffe/Science/Techonology

Japan's home moving companies provide a service that's unrivaled for reliability and

comprehensiveness. You don't need to make any preparations at all – from packing to

unpacking, the movers will handle it all. Special packing materials protect fragile items like

crockery, and prevent creases in clothing. Everything is unpacked at your new home and placed

precisely where you're used to having it – you simply resume life with no interruption. This

service is so complete that they even clean your home before they leave.

2011/04/05

5/17



2009/2010 No.1 May '09The Cherry Blossoms of

Yoshino 4’ 22” Nature/Tourism

The mountainous area of Yoshino is possibly Japan's most famous spot for viewing

cherry blossoms. In was in this culturally ancient region that the mountain ascetic

practices of the shugendo sect first developed, and Yoshino's slopes are covered

with cherry trees (30,000 of them) that were planted as offerings by pilgrims. Over

the centuries the local people cared for these cherry forests, ensuring their scenic

beauty survives today in all its glory.

Yoshino/Nara Kinki

Titanium Tiles for Temple

Roofs3’ 46” Liffe/Science/Techonology

Roofs in Japan were traditionally covered with heavy ceramic tiles. These gave excellent

protection against fire and storms, but their weight was a drawback in this earthquake-

prone country. The long search for a lightweight replacement finally resulted in titanium

tiles, which are both stronger and 26 times lighter. First used, for safety and esthetic

reasons, to retile famous temple roofs, they are now being adopted nationwide.

How Old Firms Survive 3’ 31” Industry/Techonology

Japan has a very large number of old family firms still prospering a century or more after

their founding. The secret to the success and survival of these firms through both good

times and bad appears to be an attitude that combines respect for traditional skills and

techniques with an open-minded readiness to react to changing conditions by adopting

new methods and businesses.

Old Crafts in Modern Art 3’ 39” Craft/Tradition/Design

Unique local industries developed throughout Japan based on locally created craft

techniques and raw materials. Skills and techniques refined over the centuries gave

Japan one of the world's most distinctive craft traditions. Today, the inheritors of such

traditional skills are increasingly using them in the service of fine art, employing old craft

materials like bamboo, lacquer and clay to create freshly expressive works.

2009/2010 No.2 June '09 Hiking the Shinetsu Trail 4’ 29” Nature/Tourism

This newly completed hiking trail runs for 80 km through the Sekida mountains, an easily

accessible range of 1,000 m peaks covered with old forests of Japanese buna beech

trees. These woods, filled with springs, lakes and ponds, are unique for being

almost entirely free from other tree species, and also for the way they have been

shaped and polished by the region's heavy winter snowfall. The Shinetsu Trail is

open year-round, and is a wonderfully convenient way to explore the delights of

nature in Japan.

Shinetsu

Trail/Nagano/NiigataChubu

When Mending Becomes an

Art3’ 24” Craft/Tradition/Design

Mottainai is a traditional Japanese custom of never wasting anything that can be

repaired instead. Kintsugi originated 400 years ago as a method for mending

broken pottery with a lacquer resin glue, repeatedly polishing many layers of

lacquer for a seamless join. Artisans decorated their repairs by adding gold dust

to the lacquer, and kintsugi gradually developed into an art form in which the

repair actually added beauty and value. Old ceramics mended in this way can be

extremely valuable, and the art itself is becoming popular again.

A Better Way to Peaceful

Sleep3’ 21” Liffe/Tradition/Techonology

Japan, like many parts of the world, suffers from biting insects during the hot, humid

summer nights. Insecticides or air conditioning are not ideal for health or for the

environment, so people are rediscovering the benefits of the traditional mosquito net

for insect-free sleep. The Japanese kaya mosquito net is a uniquely spacious, box-

like design, but the weave used for its netting impeded the flow of air, making it

warm inside. Modern weaving techniques have now solved this, and the kaya is

regaining popularity as a natural, healthy way to ensure a good night's sleep.

6/17



New Technology for

Disaster Sports4’ 22” Sports/Science/Techonology

A vital factor in the current worldwide advance of disabled sports is the development of

specialized technology to allow athletes with disabilities to take part in competitive

sports. Athletic wheelchairs and prosthetic equipment must be specially designed for

each sport and also customized to meet the greatly differing requirements of each user.

We introduce a Japanese company that has revolutionized sports wheelchair design

with a new frame-building technique, and a sports trainer/equipment developer who

refines his designs through daily feedback from the athletes he coaches.

2009/2010 No.3 August '09Ajisai – Hydrangeas in

Hakone 3’ 41” Nature/Tourism

The hydrangea is a flower native to Japan, where it is called ajisai . This delicately

colored flower blooms everywhere during the rainy season, but one of the finest

places to see it in all its many varieties is the beautiful mountain and hot spring

resort of Hakone, one hour from Tokyo by train. The tracks of Hakone's nine-

kilometer long switchback railway are lined with over 10,000 blossoms, the

varieties changing as the train climbs higher up the mountain, and special

sections are even illuminated at night.

Hakone/Kanagawa Kanto

Lettuce From a Factory 3’ 24” Liffe/Science/Techonology

Agriculture today faces problems from abnormal weather to chemical overuse that

cause concern about the safety and reliable supply of our daily vegetables. One

promising solution is the “plant factory,” where food is grown indoors in a computer-

controlled environment. Vertical stacked growing beds produce far greater amounts of

crops than regular farms of the same area, while pest-free sealed environments simplify

organic cultivation. New technologies are making factory-grown cultivation safer, more

nutritious and more efficient than conventional farming.

Mizuhiki – The Art of Tying

Paper Cords3’ 18” Craft/Tradition/Design

A custom that's long been part of daily life in Japan is to present gifts or offerings in an

envelope decorated with a complex knot of colored cords. The 1,000-year old custom of

mizuhiki symbolizes the wish that the ties binding giver to receiver will never

break. Today, in addition to the traditional use, people also use mizuhiki to tie

many other things, such as birthday cards, companies are developing new

products using mizuhiki cords and artists are adapting the old materials and

techniques to create art objects.

New Life for Old Facilities 3’ 36” Liffe/culture/Techonology

In recent years, local communities all over Japan have been discovering the cultural and

social benefits to be obtained by converting old facilities, buildings and infrastructure to

serve new purposes rather than simply demolishing them after their service life is over.

We see an old power station that has been converted to a flourishing art museum, a

discontinued railway that is now a popular cycle trail, and a primary school reborn as a

toy museum.

2009/2010 No.4 September '09Dancing the Summer Nights

Away 3’ 51”

Festival/Culture/Tradition/Touris

m

Gujo Hachiman is a well-preserved old castle town in the mountains of Gifu; a town of

rivers, springs and waterways. It is most famous for its 400-year old dance festival, the

Gujo Odori. For 32 nights each summer, the town's old streets are packed with people

dancing and singing the traditional songs, and for several of these nights, the dancing

goes on till dawn. A feature of this festival is that the dancing is open to anyone –

visitors are encouraged to join in, and the dances themselves are quite easy to imitate.

Gujyohachiman/Gifu Chubu

Mottainai – Even Tiny

Scrapes Can Be Reused 3’ 45” Craft/Tradition/Design

Mottainai is a traditional Japanese custom of never wasting anything that can be reused,

and Kaga Yubinuki are a good example. The old region of Kaga (part of today's Ishikawa)

was famous for kimonos and textile dying. In the Kaga Yuzen style of kimono, many

colors of thread are used for each piece, creating large amounts of cast off short lengths

of silk thread. The old seamstresses recycled the threads to make thimbles (yubinuki),

and over the centuries these silk thimbles evolved into delicately patterned little pieces

of folk art.

kaga/Ishikawa Chubu

7/17



Cruising Down the Shimanto

River 4’ 22” Nature/Tourism

The Shimanto River, on Shikoku, is one of Japan's clearest and most beautiful rivers. And

for centuries, Japanese tourists have been coming here to enjoy the scenery from

yakatabune river boats. These wooden boats have a large cabin in which passengers sit

on tatami mats to enjoy a meal of freshly caught river fish and prawns while watching

the deeply forested banks pass by. Among the sights you see as you eat are fishermen

casting their nets in the traditional way to catch the next meal.

Shimanto River/Shikoku Shikoku

Umbrellas To Slip in a

Pocket3’ 10” Liffe/culture/Techonology

An umbrella is essential in Japan, a land of frequent, unpredictable showers, so it's only

natural that Japanese umbrella makers have long been pioneers in designing folding

umbrellas that you can carry at all times, just in case. New technology is now allowing

folding umbrellas to be made flatter, smaller and lighter – indeed, there are now

umbrellas weighing just 192 g, that fold as small as a mobile phone. But designers are

not yet satisfied – they hope to reduce this convenient item to the size of a fountain

pen.

2009/2010 No.5 October '09 Funadansu Sea Chjests 3’ 40” Craft/Tradition/Design

Being an island nation where it was always easier to transport goods by water, Japan

has a long and proud seafaring tradition. Back in the days of sail, no other country

developed such sophisticated techniques for making beautiful, sturdy sea chests to

protect valuables and documents. With secret compartments and cunning locks,

precisely designed to be watertight and floatable, beautifully decorated old funadansu

are sought-after collectors items and there is still a demand for new chests, hand-made

using traditional techniques.

Mikunicho/Fukui Chubu

Sweet Accessories 3’24” Fashion/Design

Right at this moment, there's a new trend sweeping the streets of Japan. Like women

everywhere, Japanese women delight in sweet desserts and in fashion accessories, and

now they've found a way to combine these two passions. On rings, pendants, cell phone

straps, bracelets – the trend today is to wear tiny accessories that are perfect replicas of

your favorite sweets. Top brands are even sold in stores resembling upscale

confectionary boutiques.

Yamaga Lantern Festival 3’ 52” Festival/Culture/Tradition

In one of Japan's oldest and best-known fire festivals, a parade of blazing pine torches

commemorates a legendary imperial visit to Yamaga. This venerable Kyushu merchant

town has a unique 500-year old tradition of making lanterns out of washi craft paper,

and the highlight of the festival is the sight of 1,000 dancers circling in the slow Sen-nin

Toro Odori, illuminated by the gentle flickering glow of the paper lanterns they wear on

their heads. The procession ends with the offering of the lanterns at ancient Omiya

Shrine.

Yamaga/Kagoshima Kyushu

Wagakki- Ancient Japanese

Musical Instruments4’ 18” Music/Culture/Tradition

When the Japanese adopted the ancient Chinese court music tradition called gagaku,

they also imported a complete orchestra of musical instruments. These were the

ancestors of instruments still played today, such as the 13-stringed koto harp, the

shakuhachi bamboo flute and the three-stringed shamisen lute. Over many centuries,

Japanese musicians not only modified the instruments, they also evolved a unique

variation on the pentatonic scale used everywhere else, giving this music a sound only

heard in Japan.

2009/2010 No.6 December '09Unfolding the story of the

Kyo-sensu fan4' 23" Craft/Tradition/Design

The first folding fans were made in Kyoto (the kyo in kyo-sensu) about 1,200 years ago,

much later spreading to China and then, via the Silk Road, to Europe. The Japanese,

living in a country with long hot summers, quickly adopted this new design that allowed

fans to be carried so conveniently when not in use. Over the centuries, craftsmen

created a tradition of beauty in the making of their bamboo frames and hand-painted

washi paper that lives on today in Japan, both in everyday life and in high culture.

2011/04/05 Kyoto Kinki

8/17



Highly Polished skills 3' 08" Industry/Techonology

Polishing is a key metal working technique, and the old metal-ware center of Tsubame

City in Niigata is renowned throughout Japan for the quality and high level of its

polishing work. Even simple jobs like restoring the shine to old pots and pans require

refined manual skills as well as fine control over polishing machines, but there are also

high-tech manufacturing tasks – such as finishing the leading edges of aircraft wings –

where the trained hands of a traditional Tsubame craftsman achieve precision greater

than any machine.

2011/04/05 Tubame/Niigata Chubu

Matsuri-zushi-festival sushi 3’40” Food/Culture/Tradition

Sushi is world famous, but the kind of sushi known overseas is just one of many that are

eaten inside Japan. Matsuri-zushi is a term describing sushi eaten at festivals and

celebrations, and even this comes in many varieties, made using different local

ingredients and methods. We look at two famous regional styles – Okayama's

extravagant bara-zushi, and Chiba's futomaki-zushi, featuring intricate designs that

combine several layers of seaweed-wrapped rolls.

2011/04/05 Okayama/Chiba Chugoku/Kanto

Iriomote's Shichi Festival 3’42” Festival/Culture/Tradition

Iriomote is a subtropical, mangrove-covered island at Japan's southernmost tip, known

for its rare wildlife, beautiful scenery and distinctive local culture. The Shichi Festival,

unique to a small western part of Iriomote, is a harvest festival with a history going back

several centuries. It features a masked man representing Miriku, god of happiness, who

leads the villagers in a parade to the seashore where they dance as boats are rowed out

to greet blessings sent from over the sea by the harvest god.

2011/04/05 Iriomote/Okinawa Okinawa

2009/2010 No.7 January '10 The Miniature Appeal of

Netsuke3' 51" Craft/Tradition/Design

Most Japanese have a small ornament hanging from their cellphone strap. This modern

trend is in fact an old tradition, originating in 17th century netsuke - tiny toggles used

to secure pouches or boxes to kimono sashes. At first these were functional

objects, necessary to carry items on a pocketless kimono, but custom designs

became fashionable and antique netsuke are highly valued for their artistic

beauty. Modern netsuke designers continue to find new uses for this old idea.

2011/04/05

Nature's Beauty at Lake

Akan3' 51" Nature/Tourism

Lake Akan, in eastern Hokkaido, is a beautiful lake set among mountains and primeval

forest that has become a popular year-round leisure destination. One unusual pastime is

to sit in tents to fish through holes in the ice when the lake freezes in winter. This also

the home of unusual green spheres of algae called marimo. Formed by the rare

conditions in the lake, marimo found here are larger than anywhere else in the world. A

festival at the lakeside town features songs and dances in praise of nature by the local

Ainu people.

2011/04/05 Kushiro/Hokkaido Hokkaido

Keeping Frozen Cells Alive-

CAS3’30” Liffe/Science/Techonology

CAS stands for Cells Alive System, a revolutionary freezing technology that's now

practically available. CAS freezes without destroying cellular structure - CAS frozen

flowers will even begin blooming again after defrosting. This makes a huge difference to

the taste, color and texture of frozen food products. Conventional flash freezing breaks

down cells, so much taste is lost in liquid runoff after defrosting. Chefs are welcoming

this technology, especially for marine products to be served raw far from the sites

where they are frozen.

2011/04/05

Wazuma-Japanese

Traditional Magic3’43” Theatre/Culture/Tradition

Japanese stage magic is possibly one of the oldest in the world, originating as far back as

the 8th century and with manuals of techniques surviving from 300 years ago. Old

woodblock prints show wazuma magicians performing the same tricks you can see

on stage today – illusions using traditional Japanese items such as washi paper,

folding fans and of course, gorgeous kimonos. Most spectacular is the mizugei ,

where performers dexterously manipulate spouting columns of water.

2011/04/05

9/17



2009/2010 No.8 February '10 Nambu-tekki Cast Ironware 3' 51" Craft/Tradition/Design

Morioka is located near rich deposits of iron ore, and has been famous for its specialist

ironware industry since the mid 17th century. The city became known for nambu-tekki

– a style of cast iron kettles and tea pots that combine delicate beauty and robust

solidity. The good looks and practicality of this ironware method led to its

adoption for a range of practical cooking utensils, and the modern version of this

old craft method is also widely popular for ornamentation and interior design.

2011/04/05 Morioka/Iwate Tohoku

Winter Train to Tsugaru 4' 40" Tourism/Nature

The Tsugaru region in the far north of Japan's main island is a remote area with its own

unique culture and history, including the Tsugaru-jamisen, a type of shamisen played

in a vigorously distinctive style. Tsugaru's winters are icy cold but also extremely

beautiful, and a fine way to travel through this snow-covered landscape is by the

special winter season train run by the Tsugaru Railway. Antique carriages

featuring old-fashioned pot-belly stoves will carry you snugly on a route that links

Tsugaru's major sights.

2011/04/05 Tsugaru/Aomori Tohoku

Jomon Art - Ancient yet

modern4’05” Craft/Tradition/Design

Some of the oldest pottery vessels in the world have been found in Japan, dating to

what is called the Jomon Period, from around 16,500 to 3,000 years ago. "Jomon"

means straw rope pattern – the method used to decorate these pots. As they turned

from a nomadic to a semi-sedentary life, the Jomon people began producing

increasingly sophisticated pottery, including human and animal figures. Jomon art has a

striking and timeless beauty that continues to inspire modern Japanese artists.

2011/04/05

Kendo - A Sport for Mind

and Body3’37” Sports

The popular sport of Kendo originated in sword training methods developed about 300

years ago. The samurai invented ways to safely hone their sword skills by sparring with

special bamboo sticks. In today's sport, competitors wearing protective clothing try to

strike specified areas of their opponent's head and body to score points. Kendo's

rigorous, training of physical techniques and the calm quickness of mind needed for

combat remain an excellent way to develop a strong spirit in a strong mind.

2011/04/05

2009/2010 No.9 March '10 Mount Fuji in Winter 3' 59" Nature/Tourism

Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest and most famous mountain, towers above a scenic region of

lakes and highlands that is just 1 1/2 hours drive from Tokyo. In summer, people come

from all over to scale this beautiful peak, but the scenery around its base attracts

visitors all year round. Winter attractions include views of the snow covered summit

reflected in the lakes, horseback trekking through snow-covered woods, illuminated ice

caves and spectacular lakeside fireworks events.

2011/04/05

Yusan-bako Picnic Boxes 2' 50" Craft/Tradition/Design

The yusan bako picnic box is a traditional handicraft product from Tokushima,

where, from the 17th century until recently, there was a unique local custom for

all the local children to go on a Spring picnic outing where no adults were

allowed. Parents showed trust in their children's independence by sending them

off alone on this picnic, proudly carrying food prepared by their mothers in these

finely decorated 3-tiered picnic boxes. The special picnic no longer exists, but

yusan bako are still a popular Tokushima souvenir.

2011/04/05 Toshikuma/Shikoku Shikoku

New Ways to Use Cardboard 4’08” Liffe/Science/Techonology

Light, easy to work and surprisingly strong, cardboard is one of the most common kinds

of packaging material. Computer design has now taken the simple cardboard container

to a new level, making it possible to produce both the box and the shaped protective

liners to secure the contents out of a single cut and folded sheet of cardboard. Today's

designers are also being inspired by the strength and easy workability of this material to

create a surprisingly diverse range of products, from furniture to toys and playground

equipment.

2011/04/05

10/17



Kariwano's Giant Tug -of-

War4’33” Festival/Culture/Tradition

For 500 years, Kariwano in Akita has held a famous festival that pits the town's two

neighborhoods against each other in a spectacular tug of war where chanting teams

haul on a massive straw rope that's 72 cm thick, weighs 20 tons, and stretches a full 120

m when laid out. The O-Tsunahiki festival is a religious ritual that begins with special

rites at the town's Shinto shrine, and tradition has it that a win by the young men of the

upper part of town means better prices for rice, while a win for the lower part means a

fine harvest.

2011/04/05

11/17



2008/2009 No.1 May '08 Mixing Up a Super Fuel 3’ 39” Life/Science/Technology

Ever since the oil crisis of the 1970s, scientists and industry worldwide have been

searching for ways to use oil more efficiently. A major goal has been to make fuel from

an emulsion of oil and water, but all attempts at the practical solution failed since the

mixture would always slowly separate into the original two fluids. Now a Japanese

scientist has solved this problem, using nanotechnology to create super emulsion fuel, a

stable mixture that provides all the power of regular diesel but with greater fuel

efficiency, less polluting emissions and fewer greenhouse gases. This is another case of

Japan's government, industry and scientific institutions collaborating on a successful

project to benefit the global environment.

Yoshino/Nara Kinki

Hokkaido Horse-trekking 3’ 14” Nature/Tourism

The northern island of Hokkaido covers over 20% of Japan's land mass, and contains

some of its most beautiful and unspoiled scenery. It's also the home of an ancient breed

of Japanese horse called the dosanko . A strong animal able to carry great loads and

very stable on hillside trails due to its short legs, the Dosanko played a significant

historical role in the development of Hokkaido's agriculture. After having become

somewhat rare in recent times, the dosanko is now seeing a revival due to the

popularity of horse-trekking tours. This docile, stable mount can be ridden easily even

by complete novices, and is the perfect way to explore the magnificently varied

landscape of Hokkaido.

Fresh Ideas for Mobile

Living3’ 38”

Life/Science/Technology/desig

n

Mobile phones are an evolving worldwide phenomenon. In Japan, where 8 out of 10

people own a mobile phone, the pace of change is especially rapid. New technologies

and ideas are continually emerging for using this device to make daily life more

convenient. Parents keep track of their children using GPS phones, while the trains are

full of people emailing, sending text messages or browsing the Internet on their phones.

Mobile phones can be used as electronic wallets for e-money, accepted by many stores,

public transport and even vending machines in Japan. They are even spurring new

cultural developments - people don't just read comics and view movies on their phones,

novelists are now first publishing their work on-line. And the excellence of Japanese

phone design is winning phones a place in museum collections.

New Future for Smallest

Room3’ 06” Life/Science/Technology

Japan adopted the flush toilet just 40 years ago, but in that short time it has become the

world leader in the industry, refining this essential facility both with high-tech functions

and with ecological innovations. The latest Japanese toilets automatically open their lids

as you approach and close as you leave, and have advanced washing and drying

functions controlled by a wall panel. Today's home designs use less water and don't

need paper, but outdoor modes are being specifically designed with the environment in

mind. These bio-toilets require no water and produce no sewage - everything is recycled

using various methods to process the human waste into water and clean fertilizer

products. Researches are now trying to also make them independent of power supplies

and even more self-sustaining.

2008/2009 No.2 June '08Untouched for 8,000 years

Shirakami-Sanchi Forest3’ 50” Nature/Tourism

Shirakami-Sanchi is the world's largest primeval beech forest, a unique ecosystem that

has survived unchanged for over 8,000 years thanks to its remote location and harsh

climate. This virgin forest, covering 1,300 square kilometers in northern Japan, was the

nation's first Natural World Heritage Site to be listed. The core forest, a genetic treasure

house of rare plant and animal species, is strictly protected but there are nature trails

and other facilities for visitors to enjoy in the outer woods.

Shinetsu

Trail/Nagano/NiigataChubu

12/17



High-Rise Work Fashion 3’ 27” Craft/Tradition/Design

Japan's steeplejacks and scaffolding workers were always an elite group. Their skill in

working at dangerous heights meant that they become the first firefighting groups,

centuries ago when Japan's wooden cities often caught fire. Proud of their skills and

popular heroes for their courage, these workers competed in fashion too, striving to see

who could display the most colorful garments. This was the origin of the distinctive

workwear we still see today on Japan's building sites, a living tradition that continues to

evolve and which has recently inspired designers in the world of high fashion.

Fine Mist Cools City Heat 3’ 38” Life/Science/Technology

Global Warming continues to raise temperatures worldwide, and large cities contribute

to this trend through the urban heat island effect. Increased use of air conditioning is

raising temperatures on the streets, and Japanese cities are experimenting with ways to

counter this. One new system uses advanced technology to make spray nozzles so small

that the fine mist they emit immediately evaporates, leaving no moisture behind. The

effect of the evaporating mist is to significantly cool the air beneath it. These mist

systems are also being used in high-tech industry to cut dust and static electricity.

Minamata An Eco-Aware

community3’ 45” Life/Science/Technology

The small southern Japanese fishing port of Minamata was the site of one of the world's

worst cases of industrial pollution, giving its name to the terrible mercury poisoning

syndrome called Minamata Disease. This tragedy was in the early 1950s, during Japan's

rush to industrialize. Fifty years later, although problems still remain, Minamata has

transformed itself into one of Japan's most environmentally conscious towns,

successfully improving its local coastal environment. Minamata residents attribute their

successes to the lessons learned during many years of cleaning up after the

catastrophe, looking after is suffering victims, and becoming aware of the importance of

living in harmony with their environment.

2008/2009 No.3 August '08Tokyo’s Subtropical

Islands4' 15" Nature/Tourism

Although the Ogasawara Islands lie 1,000km south of Tokyo, they are officially part of

the metropolis because the only way to get there is a 25.5hr ferry trip from Tokyo.

Geologically isolated from the mainland since their creation, the islands are known as

the Galapagos of the East for their rich variety of unique plants and animals. Many

visitors make the long trip to Ogasawara not just for its fine whale and dolphin

watching, but also to enjoy the islands' worm and welcoming culture.

Hakone/Kanagawa Kanto

Toys for all Ages 3' 37" Life/Technology/design

The Tokyo toy Show is Japan's largest and most diverse toy fair, and the huge crowds

that attend this 4-day event include many overseas buyers, here to check the latest

trends and innovations by Japan's toy manufacturers. It's not just advanced technology

that has made Japan a leading influence on worldwide trends in toys and games. New

concepts developed here, such as games that involve parents with their children as they

learn useful skills, are finding an enthusiastic reception abroad.

Japanese Cuisine-Sincerity

is the Key3’33” Food/Culture/Tradition

A look behind the scenes at a good Japanese restaurant gives us a glimpse into the

working day of its itamae, or chefs, and the central organizing role played by the

proprietress, the okami. These chefs not only spend years becoming highly skilled at

creating dishes that look like works of art, they daily visit fish piers and markets learning

to select the finest materials. This okami minutely manages her kitchen, as well as

providing hospitality for there guests. But in the end, it is the sincere and wholehearted

devotion to their craft of all involved that is the key to Japan's quality cuisine.

13/17



Building to Blend with

Nature3’59” Life/Technology/design

Kengo Kuma is now a world-famed architect, with a company active in projects around

the globe. We see how his style evolved into a current philosophy that focuses on using

softer, gentler building materials designed to make his creations merge seamlessly with

their surroundings and blend into the local environment. Kuma has taken the use of

soft, natural materials such as wood, paper and earth to such an extent that with some

of his recent designs it is becoming difficult to tell where the building ends and the

scenery begins.

2008/2009 No.4 September '08 Manga Goes Worldwide 3' 31" Life/Pop culture

The worldwide spread of Japan's manga sub-culture was on view again this year at the

second International Manga Awards, where prizes were presented to artists from many

different countries for the best manga work produced outside Japan. Many who came

for the Awards went on to the International Manga Summit in Kyoto, which focused on

ways to use this rapidly internationalizing art form for the benefit of society in every

nation, just as it has long been used in Japan.

World’s Biggest Firework 4' 03" Craft/Tradition/Design

Summer fireworks displays has long been a Japanese custom, and Japanese fireworks

are among the world's most spectacular. Among the more than one thousand fireworks

displays held here every year, there is one that features the world's biggest firework.

The tiny town of Katakai (pop.6,000) has had a fireworks industry for over 400 years.

They used a combination of traditional and innovative techniques to produce the 420

kg, 120 cm shell that now draws crowds of 200,000 to their annual display.

Japanese Denim-High

Fashion and Eco-Friendly3’31” Fashion/Design

Japanese denim, currently the favorite material for high-fashion jeans worldwide, was

the theme of the Japan Blue Exhibition, part of this year's Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo.

The world's fashion houses choose Japanese-made denim for a number of reasons: the

excellent appearance produced by Japan's local indigo dye and traditional dyeing

techniques, the leading ideas of contemporary Japanese jeans designers, and the

pioneering efforts of Japanese jeans and denim companies to make the manufacturing

process more eco-friendly.

Deco Art – It’s

Everywhere!3’58” Life/Pop culture

A new fashion trend is spreading from Japan to the world. It originated when nail artists

discovered their clients wanted the same kind of decorations applied to cellphones and

other personal objects. Driven by user demand, stores sprang up offering custom-

decorated phones and the parts and tools for people to do their own decoration. This

trend was quickly taken up by the world of street fashion, and a sub-culture known as

"deco-art" now supports the desire of young Japanese to express their individuality by

personalizing each product they ear.

2008/2009 No.5 October '08Walking the Old Tokaido

Highway4' 42" Nature/Tourism

The Tokaido was the main highway of old Japan, linking Tokyo (then called Edo) in the

east to the old capital of Kyoto in the west, and it played a vital role in the development

of modern Japan’s commerce, industry and culture. The Tokaido was also where

Japanese tourism began, as travellers walking this 500-kilometer highway started to

make detours to view famous shrines and temples, to admire the scenery and to sample

famous regional delicacies. Today, hikers still enjoy walking the Tokaido, parts of which

remain almost unchanged since 400 years ago.

Mikunicho/Fukui Chubu

Compact House for

Spacious Living3' 58" Life/Technology/design

In 1952, architect Makoto Masuzawa started a boom in Japan for what he called the

“minimum house” – very compact homes with an efficient open-plan interior that made

them seem very spacious for their size. His ideas are now being revived by a group of

young architects and designers calling themselves the 9-Tsubo House Project. Their

popular and highly versatile designs are smaller than normal houses, allowing more of

each site to be used for garden. Open interiors and large windows and doors that merge

interior and exterior achieve a feeling of great spaciousness.

14/17



Learning about Life from

Food3’17” Food/Culture/Tradition

In the Japanese school system, food and nutrition education courses, where children

learn about good diet and how to choose and make healthy food, are regarded as an

important foundation for all education – intellectual, moral and physical. Many outside

groups take part in these classes, from local school authorities to food manufacturers,

as well as expert volunteers such as celebrity chef Kiyomi Mikuni who contribute their

specialist knowledge of cooking, eating and food safety to teach young children valuable

and basic lessons about life.

Yamaga/Kagoshima Kyushu

Fun Ways to Get Fit 3’46” Life/Technology/design

Japanese toy and game manufacturers have made huge advances in home

entertainment technology, and now they are starting to apply this knowledge for health,

fitness and healing. Families enjoy exercising together in front of the TV, thanks to

interactive sports games using advanced motion sensors and monitors. Walkers and

runners listen to voice instructions providing expert guidance through their

headphones, with music scientifically optimized for greatest aerobic benefit. And

playing with lifelike robot pets is having a rejuvenating effect on the brains of many

senior citizens.

2008/2009 No.6 November '08The Healing Powers of the

Jellyfish4' 03" Life/Science/Technology

Jellyfish have always been common in the seas around Japan, but just recently the

Japanese have begun looking at these graceful, translucent creatures in a new light. The

old image was of a stinging animal one tried to avoid when swimming, but the

unexpected success of one aquarium’s jellyfish displays has made people realize the

soothing, healing effect of watching jellyfish swim. For example, customers at a bar in

central Tokyo find that watching its large tank full of exotic jellyfish is an ideal way to

unwind and relax after a stressful day at work.

Ready to Eat, Instantly,

Anywhere3' 56" Life/Science/Technology

Over 100 billion instant noodle meals are now eaten worldwide each year – a huge

change in our eating habits that began 50 years ago with a new technology invented in a

Japanese garden shed. Flash-frying in oil to quickly dry noodles created a tasty product

that was easy to cook and had a long shelf life. Today, we can choose from a vast

variety of instant meals, not just noodles. They are eaten at home, at the office, and

even by astronauts in space. And they have proved especially valuable as emergency

food supplies for disaster zones.

Kushiro/Hokkaido Hokkaido

Bamboo’s Deep Roots in

Japanese Life4’00” Craft/Tradition/Design

The bamboo has been an ever-present, well-loved part of Japanese daily life and culture

for centuries. You see it in house exteriors and interiors, children still play with

traditional bamboo toys like stilts and tops, and it’s widely eaten in season. Traditional

arts like the tea ceremony feature fine accessories and utensils crafted from bamboo. It

is modern too – the first electric light bulbs used Japanese bamboo filaments, and

innovative new bamboo products continue to be developed, ranging from silky textiles

to bamboo charcoal soaps and anti-allergy products.

Traditional Crafts, Modern

Design – That’s Kanazawa3’50” Craft/Tradition/Design

In its golden age from the 17th to the 19th century, Kanazawa was one of Japan’s

greatest centers of culture and commerce. The old city retains much of its samurai era

atmosphere, and its many highly-sophisticated traditional arts and crafts such as Kaga

Yuzen dyeing, Kutani ceramics and fine gold leaf work continue to prosper. Today, the

city is encouraging these local craft industries to apply their traditional artistic skills to

modern designs, aiming to make beautiful hand-made objects, from fashion to jewellery

and tableware, once again part of people’s daily lives.

15/17



2008/2009 No.7 January '09 Night Festival in Chichibu 4' 20" Craft/Tradition/Design

Huge wooden floats, fantastically decorated and hauled by chanting groups, are a

feature of many Japanese festivals. One of the most spectacular is the Chichibu Night

Festival, held in early December in a hilly town north of Tokyo. Taking all year to prepare

and weighing up to 20 tons, the floats are pulled to the sound of drums through streets

filled with festival crowds. The floats begin from Chichibu’s 2,000-year-old shrine and

are strenuously hauled through the sharp corners and steep inclines of the town to end

at a park under a huge firework display.

Morioka/Iwate Tohoku

Monkiri Asobi – The Art of

Papercutting 3' 59" Tourism/Nature

Monkiri asobi is a style of papercutting in which symmetrical patterns are cut with

scissors in paper folded in four. Unfolded, the paper reveals the full design. This

pastime, now popular again after almost disappearing, originated over 150 years ago

from a technique developed by craftsmen to save time when preparing the patterns for

painting mon , or family crests. Later used for many other decorative purposes, mon

were created in a vast range of artistic designs that tell us much about the interests,

lifestyle and world view of people centuries ago

Tsugaru/Aomori Tohoku

Miyadaiku – Guardians of

a Traditional of Building in

Wood

3’43” Craft/Tradition/Design

Japan is filled with magnificent wooden structures – temples, shrines, pagodas – some

over 1,000 years old, and many still in excellent condition. The craftsmen who built

these enduring buildings are known as miyadaiku , and even today master carpenters

continue to use and pass on the ancient skills, ensuring a future for this tradition.

Miyadaiku apprentices learn their craft the old way, by directly imitating their master,

and specialize in building and restoring Japan’s shrines and temples with their intricate,

superbly finished woodwork and gracefully curving roofs.

Sushi from Tokyo Bay

Again4’11” Sports

Centuries ago, under the shoguns, the people of Tokyo (then called Edo) referred to the

abundant seafood they enjoyed from Tokyo Bay as Edomae . This vast bay, fed by many

rivers and lined with fertile tidelands, was a plentiful source of the finest fish and

shellfish that were used for Edomae zushi , the origin of the sushi that is now enjoyed

worldwide. The bay’s whole ecosystem came under threat from pollution and

reclamation during the economic boom of the 60s and 70s, but environmental programs

have now cleaned the waters and once again Tokyo can eat sushi from its bay.

2008/2009 No.8 February '09Tiny satellite Carries a Big

Dream4' 14" Nature/Tourism

A scientific satellite launched on Jan. 23, 2009 was unusual in a number of ways. This

tiny 50cm cube was the independent project of a group of small factories in Higashi-

Osaka. Machi-koba is the term for small urban factories working under contract to

major corporations, and these have been responsible for many of Japan’s technological

advances. Instead of simply supplying parts for other companies’ products, this group

wanted to design their own project and complete it using their own technology. The

result is now in orbit, helping research into lightning storms.

A Stroll Through Old

Kawagoe4' 03" Craft/Tradition/Design

Kawagoe is a popular tourist spot not just because of its easy access, an hour’s train ride

from Tokyo, but also because this small town offers a unique opportunity to stroll

through streets that have survived intact from different periods of Japan’s long history.

There are rows of old shops and houses from as far back as 350 years ago when

Kawagoe was a prosperous trading center, western-style buildings from the

modernizing 19th century, and a whole street of old-fashioned confectionery stores still

making candy the way they did in the 1930s.

Toshikuma/Shikoku Shikoku

16/17



Carry Your Own

Chopsticks4’11” Life/Science/Technology

When eating at home, it’s a Japanese custom for each family member to use their own

chopsticks, rice bowl and other utensils, the familiar feel of these personal items adding

to their enjoyment of the meal. That’s one reason for the recent boom in carrying

personal chopsticks to eat out at work or in restaurants, a boom encouraged by stores

selling a wide range of chopsticks and cases in fashionable designs. The other reason is

the cultural sense of mottainai – an aversion to waste that now makes people reluctant

to use disposable restaurant chopsticks.

Tsukemono - The Pleasure

of Japanese Pickles3’32” Festival/Culture/Tradition

No Japanese meal is complete without a dish of pickles, or tsukemono. Pickled with salt,

vinegar, rice bran, even soy sauce - tsukemono come in a bewildering choice of

varieties, colors and tastes – any combination of ingredients you can think of is bound

to be pickled somewhere in Japan as a treasured regional delicacy. Originating as a way

to preserve vegetables for winter eating, tsukemono retain their enormous popularity

today for their health benefits and for the refreshing taste contrast they bring to a meal.

2008/2009 No.9 March '09Donabe - Most Versatile

of Cooking Pots3' 41" Festival/Culture/Tradition

The donabe , a type of earthenware pot used for cooking at the table, is one of the

oldest and best loved Japanese kitchen utensils. Traditionally made from a special clay,

a donabe retains heat even after the flame is turned off, cooking its contents gently and

thoroughly. This versatile pot can be used for many different kinds of cooking, and

Japanese families love to use it to prepare food at the table, serving themselves straight

from the pot.

Bonsai - Nature's Beauty

in Miniature3' 42" Craft/Tradition/Design

Bonsai artists aim to create miniature but completely convincing natural landscapes,

pruning their tiny trees and training them with wire to grow into the desired shapes in a

process that can take hundreds of years. It’s a hobby with a huge following, and there is

even an entire village of bonsai nurseries close to Tokyo. These living works of art, long

popular among older Japanese, are now finding new fans in the younger generation.

Toshikuma/Shikoku Shikoku

Iwami Kagura - Ancient

Ritual to Modern Folk Art4’49” Life/Science/Technology

Kagura is an old tradition of dance and music that traces its roots to the most ancient of

Japan’s creation myths about the Sun Goddess Amaterasu . Historically performed at

shrines by Shinto priests, in the 19th century it was taken up by the public and

transformed into the vigorous folk art we can see today. Of all the types of kagura , the

Shimane regional style known as Iwami kagura is the most lively, gorgeous and

dramatically entertaining.

Green Revolution

Transforms City Rooftops3’43” Festival/Culture/Tradition

Japan’s cities are controlling rising temperatures due to the urban “heat island” effect

by planting greenery on building rooftops and walls. Rooftop gardens are dramatically

cooler than concrete, and can now be added to most buildings thanks to new types of

light, nutrient rich soil and special lightweight surfaces. Rooftop gardens are now a

popular place to relax, and soon people will also be growing vegetables and rice on top

of city buildings.

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